ASTRONOMY

An illustration of part of our solar system (not to scale).

One Misconception About Each Planet in the Solar System

Let's debunk some planetary misconceptions to make you feel a little bit closer to the majesty of space. Except, maybe not to Uranus.

This is going to screw with your sense of time.

How Long Are Days and Years on Other Planets in Our Solar System?

How long is a day on Mars? What about a year on Venus? The answers will probably mess with your sense of time.

The full worm moon occurs at the start of spring.

Catch the Full Worm Moon Coming in March

You'll have to be an early bird to catch a glimpse of March’s full worm moon at its peak in 2023.

Another green comet, ISON, captured in the Virgo constellation in 2013.

A Rare Green Comet Will Be Visible From Earth This Month—Here’s How to See It

The next comet visible from Earth is worth digging out your old pair of binoculars to see.

We have better cold weather tires thanks to NASA.

11 NASA Inventions We Use Every Day

From scratch-resistant eyeglass lenses to memory foam, here’s all the tech you should be thanking NASA for.

Hold Your Phone Up to the Night Sky and This App Will Identify Stars, Planets, and More

Sky Guide will answer all your burning stargazing questions, from “What am I looking at?” to “What should I be looking at?”

The Southern Sky is full of celestial wonders.

11 Dazzling Southern Hemisphere Constellations You Should Know

If you’re a North American observer, you’ve only ever really seen half of what the night sky has to show.

The Carina Nebula stellar nursery as captured by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope

See Mind-Blowing Photos of the Deep Universe from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope

NASA has released the deepest, clearest images of the universe ever captured.

Don't miss the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in late July.

The Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower Will Light Up Skies in July

The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on July 29, 2022. Here's what you need to know to catch the summer spectacle.

June’s Strawberry Moon Will Light Up the Skies on Tuesday Morning

The strawberry moon (June's full moon) isn't pink as its name suggests, but it is the most colorful moon of the lunar calendar.

Blood moons are rare events, so catch it while you can.

There's a Total Blood Moon Eclipse Happening This Weekend—Here's How to See It

You can see a moon right out of a sci-fi novel. No special equipment needed.

11 Incredible Stargazing Spots to Visit This Summer

If you’re in pursuit of incredible stargazing, these destinations are worth the journey.

Which Way Does Earth Rotate (and Why)?

In a word, counterclockwise. But there’s a little more to the story of Earth’s rotation than that.

Don't Miss This Weekend's Black Moon Partial Solar Eclipse

The black moon at the end of April comes with a bonus spectacle: the first partial solar eclipse of 2022.

Wake Up Early This Month to See Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter Aligned in a Dazzling Display

In the last weeks of April, Venus, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter will form a planetary quartet.

8 Facts About Pioneering Astronomer Caroline Herschel

Caroline Herschel was the first woman to discover a comet—and now there's a crater on the moon named after her.

You Can Catch a Glimpse of Venus at Its Brightest in February

Venus, also known as the morning star, will appear more dazzling than usual when it reaches peak brightness in early February 2022.

The Last Full Moon of 2021 Is Coming This Weekend—Here’s What To Know About the Cold Moon

Here's what you should know about 2021's full cold moon, include the meaning of the name and the best time to see it.

If You Can't View the Northern Lights in Person, Watch This Stunning 4K Video of the Aurora Borealis Over Russia

Viewing the northern lights in a 4K video isn't quite as impressive as seeing them in person, but it is much more convenient.

Heinz’s New Ketchup Was Made From Tomatoes Grown in a Mars-Like Greenhouse

Farming on Mars may not be as easy as it looks in 2015’s ‘The Martian,’ but a new Heinz ketchup suggests it might be possible.

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images. Illustration: Justin Dodd/Mental Floss

The Only Total Solar Eclipse of 2021 Falls Over Antarctica in December

Eclipse-chasers will travel all the way to Antarctica to catch the next total solar eclipse on Saturday, December 4.

Three planets over the La Silla Observatory in Chile.

See Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter Align on Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, star-gazers can be thankful for a trio of planets lining up in the night sky after sunset.

PHOTO: MICHAEL KAPPELER /GETTY IMAGES. ILLUSTRATION: JUSTIN DODD/MENTAL FLOSS

Catch a Partial Lunar Eclipse of the Micro Beaver Moon this November

In the early morning hours of November 19, a partial lunar eclipse will turn the micro beaver moon reddish brown.

The core sample seen in its not-yet-sealed titanium tube.

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Just Collected the First-Ever Rock Sample From Mars

More than half a year after NASA’s Mars rover, Perseverance, landed on the Red Planet, it secured its first pet rock.

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